Marvel’s version of Sandman is one of Moon Knight’s greatest enemies
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Moon Knight’s worst fight came from Marvel’s version of The Sandman’s Dream, a man who summoned Morpheus with the power to manipulate nightmares.
Despite being popularized by DC Comics’ The sand manthe world of dreams has been wide open for the Marvel Universe since he first introduced the Knight of the Moon bandit Morpheus. Although it shares the same name as the most familiar Dream the sand man Marvel’s version is the complete opposite. Marvel Comics’ Morpheus is a villain with a complex history, but he didn’t always have powers and only took the name Morpheus when he gained them.
Marvel Comics took a more sinister route with its portrayal and created Morpheus as one of Moon Knight’s worst enemies. As a watcher involved in mysticism and the night, Moon Knight is the perfect channel to introduce the manifestation of dreams. Although his powers were much more limited than DC’s Sandman, Morpheus was still able to create and control nightmares in the minds of his victims.
First created in 1981 Moon Knight #12 by Doug Moench, Bill Sienkiewicz, Christie Scheele and Joe Rosen, Morpheus was originally an ordinary man named Robert Markham. He becomes the entity Morpheus as a result of using untested drugs to fight a virus he has been diagnosed with. The medication mixes with his DNA and alters his appearance while granting him the ability to create psychic projections and manifest dreams. Morpheus also doesn’t need any more sleep as a result, slowly driving Robert insane. When he first learns of his powers and what the medication has done to him, he seeks revenge on the scientist who prescribed it. Thus begins his path to evil and his long battle with Moon Knight.
Moon Knight’s toughest battle at the hands of Morpheus
Moon Knight’s first battle with Morpheus Moon Knight #12 it leaves the hero exhausted and defeated. He is humiliated at the hands of Morpheus and almost hangs his hood, but Moon Knight is not so quick to give up. However, he does not quite know the extent of Morpheus’ power, over which he has complete control. Unlike Dream of the Endless, who has almost complete access to dreams, Morpheus’ powers come from his lack of sleep. Without the psychic need to sleep, the energies that accumulate from not being used while sleeping are poured into a power that Morpheus calls “ebon sleep energy”. When he taps into this energy, he can create psionic blasts, energy beams, and structures, and can tap into surrounding minds. Morpheus is still powerful enough to conjure up nightmares in his victims while they sleep, and he becomes a being that the Sandman would literally consider a nightmare.
Morpheus acts closer to one of the Sandman’s nightmares than the Dream entity. He is Corinthian-like when he strikes out on his own, eager to wreak havoc and make his name known as a source of fear. It stalks its victim even when locked up and delights in spreading fear by creating intense night terrors that leave its victims vulnerable. It is especially evident a Moon Knight #22 who chooses to follow this path instead of manipulating dreams for good. Morpheus amuses himself by creating nightmares and is even dubbed by another nickname, “The Demon of Dreams”. He pursues Moon Knight to avenge his defeats at the hands of Marc and is relentless in his pursuit, making him one of Moon Knight’s worst enemies.
Although Morpheus shares a name with Dream of the Endless, his actions and goals are the exact opposite of the omniscient deity that resides in his domain with a fair hand. He’s a nightmare with the potential to be one of the strongest villains in Marvel history if given the chance. from Marvel version of sand man be a fighting villain Knight of the Moon it’s the perfect way to contrast The DC dream with an exciting new twist on his portrayal of the Greek god of sleep.
